I jumped onto my new C2 tonight for the first time. I've a school/ college OWR background but have gotten fat with too much work/ family/ excuses excuses. I'm 44 yo, 144kg, 184 cm. When I rowed competitively 25 years ago I was about 95kg. Got married in 2000 at 100kg - thought I was overweight then! First child (2002) at 105. Moved back to Oz in 2005 at 115. Hovered between 125 and 135 in the last 10 years, but am about as big as I've ever been right now at 144.

Fairly fit (I think) for my size in that I have been doing 3 or 4 1 hour cross training sessions per week for the last few years. Including C2 time in that as well as lots of versa climber, high rep weights, ropes. I'm lucky in that I enjoy exercise and pushing myself.

I need to lose weight, worried about heart issues and diabetes (although no signs yet). I know most of that is what you put in your mouth, but exercise keeps me in the food groove and is of course important too. So, I'm cutting out sugars, upping protein and good veg., and limiting carbs particularly after 2pm. No snacks after dinner! No booze. I did this a couple of years ago and I know it works. Trick is to keep it up and not fall off the wagon.

On ergo tonight I did a 5k in 21 minutes at about 2.10 split on damper 3. I tend to rate v. low, around 18-20. Felt pretty crap in the middle. thought it would never end!d I didn't have the heart rate on, will try that next time. I've had a month off exercise as it's long holiday season here in Oz and I've been away, hoping that is why the 21 minutes felt like 50!

I'm going to go with Pete's beginner plan as that looked achievable to me.

Anyway, all tips and comments welcomed! Great to be a part of this community!

New Rower, first post. I'm glad to see a whole community here on the boards for support and help/tips.

I'm 38, 245 Lbs, 5'-10" and am looking to use the rower and a new diet to help lose weight. Just had a baby girl in November so I'd like to be in good shape when the little whipper-snapper starts running around

Got my Model E about two weeks ago and have been rowing almost everyday since. I play hockey once a week and try to work in a day of rest here and there when my body is sore.

Right now, I've been doing a set routine of 2K, Rest, 5K, Rest, 2K; mostly trying to work on technique. My 500m avg is about 2:40 right now, which i know i can improve but i want to make sure i keep my technique correct when i put forth more effort.

Main challenge for me is really to make sure i have the time available. I can really only get about an hour on the rower (w/ shower) before i really should be helping with the baby. But I do like the idea of a quick morning session.

As for diet, since i've noticed a lot of discussion on that point; I've found that food tastes better when you don't eat so much. Its weird, i know.. but its defnlee a thing. If you've got a good diet going but still have a mindset of "I want haz burger!"; honestly, try something new. I used to hate eating things like fish or almonds (to be specific) but once i got some bad stuff out of my diet and then the slimming started, i would start trying new foods and amazingly enough.. hey, they ain't bad. Something as easy as snacking on a few almonds would have been unheard of for me.. but now, heck, that quick little crunch really helps as a snack. And it keeps me from gorging myself on something even worse.

I take the same mindset when we go out to eat; i'll try something new.. be it branzino or shudder.. eggplant.. i really can appreciate the flavors more now that i'm not just scarfing down empty carbs.

Just had a few questions:

1. Where should my eye level be when I'm rowing? I can feel my gaze tends to drop down towards the chain/handle and it feels like that is incorrect (reminds me of running, when my gaze would fall to the pavement). I'm thinking i really should just be looking at the PM5 unit.

2. Is there a better or worse time to schedule rowing? right now i get my time in at night, not immediately before bed.. ~2 hours before. But like i mentioned, i'm thinking of trying to work in an early morning row, but of a shorter duration.

Looking at the monitor can certainly work and is the standard approach. That said, looking at the TV stuck to the wall behind the monitor works fine too.

Rowing in the am is fine. The body is not fully primed for maximal efforts first thing in the morning so steady aerobic efforts seem to work best for most.

If you to intend to row very soon after rising take some care as the the intervertebral discs have a higher fluid content after hours of lying down and the back is more susceptible to injury. A warm up - jogging on the spot, perhaps - and breaking into the rowing slowly will help.

GJS wrote:Looking at the monitor can certainly work and is the standard approach. That said, looking at the TV stuck to the wall behind the monitor works fine too.

you can read my thoughts?!!! problem is the TV on the wall is off to the side so my neck is craned slightly. Gonna try the smartphone clip and watching on that.

GJS wrote:
Rowing in the am is fine. The body is not fully primed for maximal efforts first thing in the morning so steady aerobic efforts seem to work best for most.

If you to intend to row very soon after rising take some care as the the intervertebral discs have a higher fluid content after hours of lying down and the back is more susceptible to injury. A warm up - jogging on the spot, perhaps - and breaking into the rowing slowly will help.

Good luck.

this is good to know, thanks.. will keep this in mind if i start fitting some rows in, in the AM.